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NBD Glarry. Am I being too picky?

Bob411

Bob411

Sep 9, 2019
12
9
#1
First, the easy stuff. If I was going to keep this, I would upgrade the nut first thing so, not a big deal. That would center the strings at the top of the neck.

Tiny amount of fret sprout. Got this as a fun project. Again, no big deal.


P1120675.JPG


Bridge is not in right place. Needs to go to the right. Also cocked/ not square to bass.

P1120672.JPG


Route for bridge pickup is real sloppy but, it is square to the strings. Almost as bad as if I did it myself. I thought they had CNC machines? Bridge pickup is pretty close to being centered on strings right now. Going right with the bridge would help center the strings on the neck but I need to move it so far, it would be off a lot at bridge pickup.

P1120673.JPG


^ ignore drawing by screw, happened in Paint when I was resizing pics.

And if strings go right, forget about the "neck" pickup. Reminder, I said fun project. Making a new pickguard is not fun. I tried it once, not my thing. Never again.

P1120674.JPG



Also, if I move the bridge over so much, screw hole on left will be visible. Will plug holes but it will be there.

Original bridge is a little over 3 1/8 inches wide. Don't mind replacing/upgrading bridge if anybody knows of a super wide one that would cover original screw hole.

Lastly, is this typical for everybody else that has bought these? If I'm not happy with this one, is it worth the time to try a replacement or, should I just send it back for a refund?
 

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#2
Bob411 said:
First, the easy stuff. If I was going to keep this, I would upgrade the nut first thing so, not a big deal. That would center the strings at the top of the neck.

Tiny amount of fret sprout. Got this as a fun project. Again, no big deal.


View attachment 3557512

Bridge is not in right place. Needs to go to the right. Also cocked/ not square to bass.

View attachment 3557508

Route for bridge pickup is real sloppy but, it is square to the strings. Almost as bad as if I did it myself. I thought they had CNC machines? Bridge pickup is pretty close to being centered on strings right now. Going right with the bridge would help center the strings on the neck but I need to move it so far, it would be off a lot at bridge pickup.

View attachment 3557509

^ ignore drawing by screw, happened in Paint when I was resizing pics.

And if strings go right, forget about the "neck" pickup. Reminder, I said fun project. Making a new pickguard is not fun. I tried it once, not my thing. Never again.

View attachment 3557534


Also, if I move the bridge over so much, screw hole on left will be visible. Will plug holes but it will be there.

Original bridge is a little over 3 1/8 inches wide. Don't mind replacing/upgrading bridge if anybody knows of a super wide one that would cover original screw hole.

Lastly, is this typical for everybody else that has bought these? If I'm not happy with this one, is it worth the time to try a replacement or, should I just send it back for a refund?
Click to expand...

They just started making the J available in September.

My P Burlywood doesn’t have these issues

I’d exchange it.
 
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#6
"Cheap" doesn't have to mean "poorly done".

My recent daily player is a MIC Affinity PJ that is absolutely insane for the price point... admittedly, a higher price point, but basics like layout and proportionality are... basics.

Maybe a thing made to meet a price point, rather than a "quality point", is the whole problem in the first place.





wvbass said:
Am I correct in thinking this is a $75.99 bass? If so, this is an incredible value if it is playable and makes any noise whatsoever.
Click to expand...
 
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#8
wvbass said:
Am I correct in thinking this is a $75.99 bass? If so, this is an incredible value if it is playable and makes any noise whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Yes you are reading it right

bunch of threads about these

this Glarry P bass Burlywood was $56 shipped!

NGBD - New Glarry Bass Day!

The only issue I had was low output pups.

I hope the OP can get his Glarry J issues rectified as I’m looking to get the Burlywood J as well.
 
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#9
wraub said:
"Cheap" doesn't have to mean "poorly done".

My recent daily player is a MIC Affinity PJ that is absolutely insane for the price point... admittedly, a higher price point, but basics like layout and proportionality are... basics.

Maybe a thing made to meet a price point, rather than a "quality point", is the whole problem in the first place.
Click to expand...
I think once you drop below $100, you shouldn't expect anything positive other than a bass that looks mostly like a bass. I would expect soft metal, unknown wood, and very poor craftsmanship. Your Affinity is a $200 bass, so you can expect some serious improvements. I think a $200 bass will still likely have soft metal and unknown wood, but the craftsmanship ought to be improved to the point that it offers a bass that is playable out of the box as often as not.

Being that it is under the Fender umbrella, I would not be surprised if your Affinity exceeds what you should expect out of a $200 bass. On the other hand, that just serves to raise the bar unrealistically with respect to a $75.99 bass by a no-name manufacturer.
 
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#13
Bob411 said:
First, the easy stuff. If I was going to keep this, I would upgrade the nut first thing so, not a big deal. That would center the strings at the top of the neck.

Tiny amount of fret sprout. Got this as a fun project. Again, no big deal.


View attachment 3557512

Bridge is not in right place. Needs to go to the right. Also cocked/ not square to bass.

View attachment 3557508

Route for bridge pickup is real sloppy but, it is square to the strings. Almost as bad as if I did it myself. I thought they had CNC machines? Bridge pickup is pretty close to being centered on strings right now. Going right with the bridge would help center the strings on the neck but I need to move it so far, it would be off a lot at bridge pickup.

View attachment 3557509

^ ignore drawing by screw, happened in Paint when I was resizing pics.

And if strings go right, forget about the "neck" pickup. Reminder, I said fun project. Making a new pickguard is not fun. I tried it once, not my thing. Never again.

View attachment 3557534


Also, if I move the bridge over so much, screw hole on left will be visible. Will plug holes but it will be there.

Original bridge is a little over 3 1/8 inches wide. Don't mind replacing/upgrading bridge if anybody knows of a super wide one that would cover original screw hole.

Lastly, is this typical for everybody else that has bought these? If I'm not happy with this one, is it worth the time to try a replacement or, should I just send it back for a refund?
Click to expand...
I bought two from eBay-one in the states one in the UK-and I had similar problems but I like to tinker with things so I just contacted The sellers (both bases were brand-new) and said here are some photos here are my problems and willing to return it for a refund but not keep it at this price can we come to some agreement?

In both cases they let me keep the base and re-funded some of my money so all is good and I had fun fixing them up but YMMV

In short I would say that you won’t get a perfect bass at this price it all boils down to how much compromise you’re willing to make (for instance many people seem to be strangely IMO happy having the bridge hiGHER than it should be as long as the neck/(frets) follow suit!) and how much you enjoy pretending to be a Luthier like I do!!
 
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#16
merseymale said:
I bought two from eBay-one in the states one in the UK-and I had similar problems but I like to tinker with things so I just contacted The sellers (both bases were brand-new) and said here are some photos here are my problems and willing to return it for a refund but not keep it at this price can we come to some agreement?

In both cases they let me keep the base and re-funded some of my money so all is good and I had fun fixing them up but YMMV

In short I would say that you won’t get a perfect bass at this price it all boils down to how much compromise you’re willing to make (for instance many people seem to be strangely IMO happy having the bridge hiGHER than it should be as long as the neck/(frets) follow suit!) and how much you enjoy pretending to be a Luthier like I do!!
Click to expand...

The Talk bass reply to my thread notice e mail was the next email I saw today after the e mail from Paypal for my refund. :)

I do like tinkering, if it was a painted body instead of stained, I could see plugging screw holes and moving the bridge.

I didn't haggle with them, I really just wanted to return it. They kept giving me a better offer to keep it. Last offer, was a better deal than a full refund, considering my time to get it to Fed Ex.

Maybe I'll do something with the neck.
 

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